Lace adjuster

ABSTRACT

A lace adjuster includes a tubular member, a stop anchor, and a separating member. The tubular member includes a surrounding wall which has two open ends and an inner surface bounding a through hole that has an axis. The stop anchor includes a fixing portion fixed on a part of the inner surface, and an inclining portion extending inclinedly from the fixing portion toward the axis and having a sharp free end portion proximate to the axis. The separating member extends axially through the through hole and said open ends, and is adapted to partition off the stop anchor from the lace moving past the stop anchor. The separating member is removable from the tubular member to permit the stop anchor to engage the lace after a desired length of the lace has moved past the stop anchor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a lace adjuster, more particularly to a laceadjuster for adjusting a length of a lace easily.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional lace for a shoe has two opposite tagged ends and a fixedlength. Therefore, the length of the conventional lace cannot beadjusted according to the number of the eyelets and the size of theshoe.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional adjustable lace assembly disclosedin Taiwanese Patent No. I250854 includes a tubular member 1, and a firstlace segment 2 and a second lace segment 3 strung through the tubularmember 1. The tubular member 1 is formed in a substantially cylindricalshape, and includes a plurality of first stop anchors 101 extendinginclinedly from an inner surface thereof in a first direction and aplurality of second stop anchors 102 extending inclinedly from the innersurface in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The firstlace segment 2 and the second lace segment 3 are strung through thetubular member 1 along a first stringing direction (X′) and a secondstringing direction (X″) opposite to the first stringing direction (X′),respectively, and are stopped by the first stop anchors 101 and thesecond stop anchors 102, respectively.

Although the lengths of the lace segments 2, 3 are adjustable, theaforesaid prior art still has the following disadvantages:

1. When the first lace segment 2 is strung through the tubular member 1in the first stringing direction (X′), it may be obstructed by thesecond stop anchors 102. Likewise, when the second lace segment 3 isstrung through the tubular member 1 in the second stringing direction(X″), it may be obstructed by the first stop anchors 101.

2. Since the first and second stop anchors 101, 102 are formed bydirectly puncturing the tubular member 1, it is difficult to form thefirst and second stop anchors 101, 102 with sharp ends. Furthermore, thefirst and second stop anchors 101, 102 are relatively proximate to theinner surface of the tubular member 1. Therefore, the anchoring effectof the first and second stop anchors 101, 102 is limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a laceadjuster which is simple in structure, which is easy to operate, andwhich has an improved anchoring effect.

Accordingly, the lace adjuster of this invention includes a tubularmember, at least one stop anchor, and a separating member. The tubularmember is adapted to permit passage of the lace and includes asurrounding wall which has two open ends and an inner surface bounding athrough hole that has an axis. The stop anchor includes a fixing portionfixed on a part of the inner surface of the surrounding wall of thetubular member, and an inclining portion that extends inclinedly fromthe fixing portion toward the axis and that has a sharp free end portionproximate to the axis and pointing toward one of the open ends of thetubular member. The separating member extends axially through thethrough hole and said open ends, and is adapted to partition off thestop anchor from the lace moving past the stop anchor. The separatingmember is removable from the tubular member to permit the stop anchor toengage the lace after a desired length of the lace has moved past thestop anchor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent in the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary partly sectional view of an adjustable laceassembly disclosed in Taiwanese Patent No. I250854;

FIG. 2 is a partly sectional view of a first preferred embodiment of alace adjuster for adjusting a length of a lace according to thisinvention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary partly sectional view illustrating the firstpreferred embodiment assembled to the lace;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary partly sectional view of a second preferredembodiment of a lace adjuster for adjusting a length of a lace accordingto this invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the second preferredembodiment;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the second preferred embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a shoe that incorporates the secondpreferred embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the second preferred embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the second preferred embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary partly sectional view illustrating the secondpreferred embodiment assembled to a lace;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary partly sectional view similar to FIG. 11,illustrating removal operation of a separating member; and

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary partly sectional view similar to FIG. 12, butillustrating a state after removal of the separating member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the first preferred embodiment of a laceadjuster 100 according to this invention is used to adjust a length of alace 140. The lace 140 includes a tagged end portion 142 having a taggedend 143, and a stringing end portion 141 opposite to the tagged endportion 142.

The lace adjuster 100 is to be assembled to the stringing end portion141 of the lace 140, and includes a tubular member 10, a stop anchor 20,and a separating member 40.

The tubular member 10 is adapted to permit passage of the lace 140, andis formed in a tubular configuration. The tubular member 10 includes asurrounding wall 12 which has a first open end 121, a second open end122, and an inner surface 123 extending between the first and secondopen ends 121, 122 and bounding a through hole 11 that has an axis (L).The tubular member 10 further includes two retaining rings 13 and a pushelement 14, which are formed by punching. The retaining rings 13 areprovided proximate to the first open end 121. Each of the retainingrings 13 projects from the inner surface 123 of the surrounding wall 12toward the through hole 11, and has a retaining hole 131 axiallyextending and aligned with that of the other one of the retaining rings13. The push element 14 protrudes inwardly from the inner surface 123 ofthe surrounding wall 12.

The stop anchor 20 includes a fixing portion 21 and an inclining portion22. The fixing portion 21 is fixed on a first part 124 of the innersurface 123 of the surrounding wall 12, and is received and retained inthe retaining holes 131 of the retaining rings 13. The inclining portion22 extends inclinedly from the fixing portion 21 toward the axis (L),and has a sharp free end portion 23 proximate to the axis (L) andpointing toward the second open end 122 of the tubular member 10. Theinclining portion 22 of the stop anchor 20 is pushed by the push element14 to bend toward the axis (L) from the fixing portion 21 of the stopanchor 20.

The separating member 40 is a sheet made of a polyvinyl chloridematerial having good stiffness and flexibility, extends axially throughthe through hole hand the first and second open ends 121, 122, and isadapted to partition off the stop anchor 20 from the lace 140 movingpast the stop anchor 20. The separating member 40 axially divides thethrough hole 11 into two parts. One of the parts forms a passage 112,and the other one of the parts receives the stop anchor 20. The passage112 is partitioned from the stop anchor 20 and permits insertion of thelace 140 therethrough without interference with the stop anchor 20. Theseparating member 40 further includes two opposite pulling portions 43axially extending outside the tubular member 10 and respectively formedwith directional indicators 44. Each of the pulling portions 43 islarger in cross section than the tubular member 10. The separatingmember 40 is removable from the tubular member 10 to permit the stopanchor 20 to engage the lace 140 after a desired length of the lace 140has moved past the stop anchor 20.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, when the lace adjuster 100 is to beassembled to the lace 140, the separating member 40 is disposed in thethrough hole 11 so that the separating member 40 axially divides thethrough hole 11 into two parts and that the separating member 40cooperates with a second part 125 of the inner surface 123 to define thepassage 112 that is partitioned from the stop anchor 20. The stringingend portion 141 of the lace 140 is strung through the passage 112 alonga direction (X), and the length of the lace 140 can be adjusted throughthe passage 112 without interference with the stop anchor 20. When thelace 140 is adjusted to a desired length, the separating member 40 isremoved from the tubular member 10 to expose the stop anchor 20 to thepassage 112. The stringing end portion 141 of the lace 140 is pulledalong a direction opposite to the direction (X) so that the stringingend portion 141 of the lace 140 is stopped by the stop anchor 20 andthat the excess part of the stringing end portion 141 of the lace 140can be cut.

In view of the above description, the lace adjuster 100 of the presentinvention has the following advantages:

1. Since the passage 112 for stringing the stringing end portion 141 ofthe lace 140 is partitioned from the stop anchor 20, the stringing endportion 141 of the lace 140 can be strung through the passage 112 andthe length of the lace 140 can be adjusted without interference with thestop anchor 20.

2. Since the free end portion 23 of the stop anchor 20 is sharp andrelatively proximate to the axis (L) the stringing end portion 141 ofthe lace 140 can be anchored and stopped effectively by the stop anchor20.

It should be noted that the tubular member 10 can be configured to havethe same color and shape as the tagged end 143.

Referring to FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 8, the second preferred embodiment of alace adjuster 100′ according to this invention is used to adjust alength of a lace including a first lace segment 110 and a second lacesegment 120. The first and second lace segments 110, 120 are strungthrough two rows of eyelets 210 of a shoe 200. Each of the first andsecond lace segments 110, 120 includes a first end portion 110′, 120′having a tagged end 130, and a second end portion 110″, 120″ opposite tothe first end portion 110′, 120′.

The lace adjuster 100′ is disposed between the two rows of the eyelets210, and includes a tubular member 10′, a pair of stop anchors (i.e., afirst stop anchor 20′ and a second stop anchor 30′), and a separatingmember 40′.

The tubular member 10′ is formed in a tubular configuration and isadapted to permit passage of the lace. The tubular member 10′ includes asurrounding wall 12′ which has a first open end 121′, a second open end122′, and an inner surface 123′ extending between the first and secondopen ends 121′, 122′ and bounding a through hole 11′ that has an axis(L). The tubular member 10′ further includes a pair of first retainingrings 13′, a first push element 14′, a pair of second retaining rings15′, and a second push element 16′, which are formed by punching. Thefirst retaining rings 13′ and the first push element 14′ are provided ona first part 124′ of the inner surface 123′ of the surrounding wall 12′,and the second retaining rings 15′ and the second push element 16′ areprovided on a second part 125′ of the inner surface 123′ of thesurrounding wall 12′. The first retaining rings 13′ are providedproximate to the second open end 122′. Each of the first retaining rings13′ projects from the inner surface 123′ of the surrounding wall 12′toward the through hole 11′, and has a retaining hole 131′ axiallyextending and aligned with that of the other one of the first retainingrings 13′. The first push element 14′ is provided proximate to the firstretaining rings 13′ and protrudes inwardly from the inner surface 123′of the surrounding wall 12′. The second retaining rings 15′ are providedproximate to the first open end 121′ and are radially opposite to thefirst retaining rings 13′. Each of the second retaining rings 15′projects from the inner surface 123′ of the surrounding wall 12′ towardthe through hole 11′, and has a retaining hole 151′ axially extendingand aligned with that of the other one of the second retaining rings15′. The second push element 16′ is provided proximate to the secondretaining rings 15′ and is radially opposite to the first push element14′, and protrudes inwardly from the inner surface 123′ of thesurrounding wall 12′. The tubular member 10′ further includes two pairsof anchoring holes 17′. The anchoring holes 17′ in each pair areproximate to a corresponding one of the first and second open ends 121′,122′.

The first and second stop anchors 20′, 30′ are proximate to the secondopen end 122′ and the first open end 121′ of the tubular member 10′,respectively. The first stop anchor 20′ includes a fixing portion 21′and an inclining portion 22′ The fixing portion 21′ of the first stopanchor 20′ is fixed on the first part 124′ of the inner surface 123′ ofthe surrounding wall 12′ and is received and retained in the retainingholes 131′ of the first retaining rings 13′. The inclining portion 22′of the first stop anchor 20′ extends inclinedly from the fixing portion21′ of the first stop anchor 20′ toward the axis (L) and has a sharpfree end portion 23′ proximate to the axis (L) and pointing toward thefirst open end 121′ of the tubular member 10′. The inclining portion 22′of the first stop anchor 20′ is pushed by the first push element 14′ tobend toward the axis (L) from the fixing portion 21′ of the first stopanchor 20′. Likewise, the second stop anchor 30′ includes a fixingportion 31′ and an inclining portion 32′. The fixing portion 31′ of thesecond stop anchor 30′ is fixed on the second part 125′ of the innersurface 123′ of the surrounding wall 12′, and is received and retainedin the retaining holes 151′ of the second retaining rings 15′. Theinclining portion 32′ of the second stop anchor 30′ extends inclinedlyfrom the fixing portion 31′ of the second stop anchor 30′ toward theaxis (L), and has a sharp free end portion 33′ proximate to the axis (L)and pointing toward the sharp free end portion 23′ of the first stopanchor 20′. That is, the sharp free end portions 23′, 33′ of the firstand second stop anchors 20′, 30′ point in two opposite directions andtowards the first and second open ends 121′, 122′ of the tubular member10′, respectively. The inclining portion 32′ of the second stop anchor30′ is pushed by the second push element 16′ to bend toward the axis (L)from the fixing portion 31′ of the second stop anchor 30′.

The separating member 40′ is made of a polyvinyl chloride material,extends axially through the through hole 11′ and the first and secondopen ends 121′, 122′, and is adapted to partition off the stop anchors20′, 30′ from the lace moving past the stop anchors 20′, 30′. Theseparating member 40′ includes a primary separating element 41′, and twosecondary separating elements 42′, 43,′ respectively connected to twoopposite sides of the primary separating element 41′. The primaryseparating element 41′ includes a middle portion 411′ axially extendingin the tubular member 10′, and two pulling end portions 412′ oppositelyand tearably connected to the middle portion 411′. The pulling endportions 412′ axially extend outside the tubular member 10′ when theseparating member 40′ is assembled in the tubular member 10′. Theseparating member 40′ further includes two direction indicators 413′provided respectively on the pulling end portions 412′ of the primaryseparating element 41′. The middle portion 411′ of the primaryseparating element 41′ includes two pairs of anchoring studs 414′respectively engaging the anchoring holes 17′. Each of the secondaryseparating elements 42′ 43′ includes a ring portion 421′ 431′ connectedto a corresponding one of the pulling end portions 412′ of the primaryseparating element 41′, and a guiding sheet portion 422′, 432′ connectedto the ring portion 421′, 431′ and extending axially over and covering acorresponding one of the first and second stop anchors 20′, 30′. Thering portion 421′, 431′ of each of the secondary separating elements42′, 43′ has a slit 423′, 433′ extending axially. The primary separatingelement 41′ divides axially the through hole 11′ into two parts whichreceive the secondary separating elements 42′, 43′, respectively. Thefirst and second stop anchors 20′, 30′ are mounted on the inner surface123′ within the two parts, respectively.

Referring once again to FIGS. 5 and 7, when the lace adjuster 100′ is tobe assembled with the first and second lace segments 110, 120, theseparating member 40′ is disposed between the first stop anchor 20′ andthe second stop anchor 30′ in the through hole 11′ so that the primaryseparating element 41′ cooperates with the secondary separating elements42′, 43′ to respectively define a first passage 111′ and a secondpassage 112′ and that the two direction indicators 413′ correspond tothe first and second passages 111′, 112′, respectively. The first andsecond passages 111′, 112′ are partitioned from the first and secondstop anchors 20′, 30′, respectively, by the guiding sheet portions 422′,432′ of the secondary separating elements 42′, 43′.

Referring to FIG. 9, the first end portion 110′ of the first lacesegment 110 is strung through the ring portion 421′ and the firstpassage 111′ along a direction (X′) extending from the first open end121′ toward the second open end 122′ and indicated by the directionindicators 413′ until a desired length of the first end portion 110′ ofthe first lace segment 110 relative to the tubular member 10′ isobtained.

Referring to FIG. 10, likewise, the first end portion 120′ of the secondlace segment 120 is strung through the ring portion 431′ and the secondpassage 112′ along a direction (X″) extending from the second open end122′ toward the first open end 121′ and indicated by the directionindicators 413′ until a desired length of the first end portion 120′ ofthe second lace segment 120 relative to the tubular member 10′ isobtained.

Referring to FIG. 11, since the first and second passages 111′, 112′ arepartitioned from the first and second stop anchors 20′, 30′,respectively, by the guiding sheet portions 422′, 432′ of the secondaryseparating elements 42′, 43′, the first end portion 110′ of the firstlace segment 110 and the first end portion 120′ of the second lacesegment 120 can be adjusted in length without interference with thefirst stop anchor 20′ and the second stop anchor 30′, respectively.Referring to FIG. 12, the pulling end portions 412′ of the separatingmember 40′ together with the secondary separating elements 42′, 43′ aretorn and removed from the middle portion 411′ of the primary separatingelement 41′. Due to the presence of the slits 423′, 433′ in the ringportions 421′, 431′ which can be widened, the ring portions 421′ 431′ ofthe secondary separating elements 42′, 43′ can be easily removed fromthe second end portions 110″, 120″ of the first and second lace segments110, 120. When the first end portion 110′ of the first lace segment 110is pulled along the direction (X′), it would be anchored and stopped bythe sharp free end portion 23′ of the first stop anchor 20′. Likewise,when the first end portion 120′ of the second lace segment 120 is pulledalong the direction (X″), it would be anchored and stopped by the sharpfree end portion 33′ of the second stop anchor 30′. The second endportions 110″, 120″ of the first and second lace segments 110, 120extending outside the tubular member 10′ are cut to obtain an assemblyof the lace adjuster 100′ with the first and second lace segments 110,120, as best shown in FIG. 13.

Referring once again to FIG. 8, the assembly of the lace adjuster 100′with the first and second lace segments 110, 120 is installed on theshoe 200 in a manner in which the lace adjuster 100′ is disposed betweenthe two rows of the eyelets 210, and the first and second lace segments110, 120 are strung through the eyelets 210.

While the present invention has been described in connection with whatare considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it isunderstood that this invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements includedwithin the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

1. A lace adjuster for adjusting a length of a lace, said lace adjustercomprising: a tubular member adapted to permit passage of the lace andincluding a surrounding wall which has two open ends and an innersurface bounding a through hole that has an axis; at least one stopanchor including a fixing portion fixed on a part of said inner surfaceof said surrounding wall of said tubular member, and an incliningportion that extends inclinedly from said fixing portion toward saidaxis and that has a sharp free end portion proximate to said axis andpointing toward one of said open ends of said tubular member; and aseparating member extending axially through said through hole and saidopen ends, and adapted to partition off said stop anchor from the lacemoving past said stop anchor, said separating member being removablefrom said tubular member to permit said stop anchor to engage the laceafter a desired length of the lace has moved past said stop anchor. 2.The lace adjuster as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tubular memberfurther includes at least one retaining ring projecting from said innersurface of said surrounding wall toward said through hole, and having aretaining hole axially extending for receiving and retaining said fixingportion of said stop anchor.
 3. The lace adjuster as claimed in claim 1,wherein said tubular member further includes a push element protrudinginwardly from said inner surface of said surrounding wall, and pushingsaid inclining portion of said stop anchor to bend toward said axis fromsaid fixing portion.
 4. The lace adjuster as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid separating member axially divides said through hole into two parts,one of said parts forming a passage, the other one of said partsreceiving said stop anchor.
 5. The lace adjuster as claimed in claim 4,wherein said separating member further includes two opposite pullingportions axially extending outside said tubular member.
 6. The laceadjuster as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of said pulling portions islarger in cross section than said tubular member.
 7. The lace adjusteras claimed in claim 3, wherein said separating member includes a primaryseparating element, and two secondary separating elements respectivelyconnected to two opposite sides of said primary separating element, saidprimary separating element dividing axially said through hole into twoparts which receive said secondary separating elements, respectively, apair of said stop anchors being mounted on said inner surface withinsaid two parts, respectively, said sharp free end portions of said stopanchors pointing in two opposite directions and towards said two openends of said tubular member, respectively.
 8. The lace adjuster asclaimed in claim 7, wherein said stop anchors are proximate to said twoopen ends of said tubular member, respectively.
 9. The lace adjuster asclaimed in claim 7, wherein said primary separating element includes amiddle portion axially extending in said tubular member, and two pullingend portions oppositely and tearably connected to said middle portion.10. The lace adjuster as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of saidsecondary separating elements includes a ring portion connected to acorresponding one of said pulling end portions of said primaryseparating element, and a guiding sheet portion connected to said ringportion and extending axially over and covering one of said stopanchors.
 11. The lace adjuster as claimed in claim 9, wherein saidseparating member further includes two direction indicators providedrespectively on said pulling end portions of said primary separatingelement.
 12. The lace adjuster as claimed in claim 10, wherein said ringportion of each of said secondary separating elements has a slitextending axially.
 13. The lace adjuster as claimed in claim 7, whereinsaid tubular member further includes at least one pair of anchoringholes proximate to one of said open ends, and said primary separatingelement of said separating member includes at least one pair ofanchoring studs respectively engaging said anchoring holes.